A Reason for Bitterness

They were engaged for almost a year and all preparations  were in full gear.The engagement party some months ago had been a huge success and congratulatory messages had not stopped pouring in . He had also made the downpayment for the house in the estate by the river and his childhood friends who were also his groomsmen  had booked their flights already for the big day.He was really grateful to God that everything was going on as planned. Well he was not sure about that one,considering what his fiancee had just told him yesterday.He trusted her but her story was just ridiculous and maybe it would have made things better if  she had just apologized for her unfaithfulness rather than insisting that it was the result of a spiritual encounter.

One of the prominent characters in the just concluded Christmas story is Joseph who is worthy of emulation in the way he handled disappointment and betrayal on hearing Mary's news.Although he had every right to publicly shame her, he decided to do it privately and on receiving instructions in a dream, went ahead with the wedding(Matthew 1:18-24).

It is almost a word from knowledge that this year, we have been offended by others and vice versa.Not all of these may have been delibrate and sometimes time does not dull the pain.But like Joseph, we can choose to do the right thing and not be led by our feelings.According to God's word, the sun should not go down on our anger (Ephesians 4:26) this just gives a foothold to the enemy with a root of bitterness whuch eventually destroys(Hebrews 12:15).

As I thought about the last article of this year, I felt conpelled that we should ensure that we are not going into the New Year with the old year's hurts.Joseph had every reason for bitterness but he chose not to and that is why we can celebrate the Christmas story. He was willing to to give up his rights as the Bible records that he did not sleep with Mary till she gave birth(Matthew 1:24).His actions showed that he held no grudges.

Not everyone who started the year is alive today.Since we are alive, let us enter the New Year bereft of any reason for bitterness.

Happy New Year in advance,
Grace Tom-Lawyer